Description
Cymatoceras sp. Nautiloid Fossil
This genuine Cymatoceras sp. nautiloid fossil is a carefully selected Cretaceous specimen from the Lower Chalk Marl of Southerham Grey Pit, Lewes, East Sussex, UK. Dating to the Lower Cenomanian stage of the Upper Cretaceous, this fossil represents an attractive and scientifically interesting marine cephalopod from the early chalk seas that once covered southern Britain.
The fossil shown in the photograph is the actual specimen you will receive. It has been carefully chosen as an individual collectable fossil, making it ideal for fossil collectors, nautiloid enthusiasts, British fossil collectors, geology students, educational displays, and natural history collections. Full sizing can be seen in the photo.
Genuine Fossil with Certificate of Authenticity
This fossil is a genuine specimen and includes a Certificate of Authenticity lifetime guarantee generic card. The photograph shows the exact fossil supplied, so you can purchase with confidence knowing this is the actual specimen that will be sent.
Nautiloids are marine cephalopods related to the modern Nautilus. Unlike ammonites, which became extinct at the end of the Cretaceous, nautiloids belong to a much older and longer-surviving lineage. They have existed for hundreds of millions of years and were successful marine animals long before ammonites appeared. A fossil Cymatoceras offers a direct link to this ancient cephalopod group and is a fascinating addition to any collection of prehistoric marine life.
Geology and Age
This specimen comes from the Lower Chalk Marl and dates to the Lower Cenomanian, the earliest part of the Cenomanian stage of the Upper Cretaceous Period. The Cenomanian lasted approximately 100 to 94 million years ago and marks an important phase in the geological history of Britain, when sea levels rose and warm marine waters spread widely across southern England.
The Lower Chalk Marl represents an early stage in the development of the great chalk seas. These deposits formed in a shallow marine environment where fine carbonate-rich mud, clay, and calcareous sediment accumulated on the sea floor. Over millions of years, these sediments hardened into the chalk and marl deposits preserved across parts of Sussex and southern England.
During this time, the sea supported a diverse ecosystem of ammonites, nautiloids, bivalves, echinoids, sponges, fish, and other marine animals. Fossils from the Lower Chalk Marl are especially interesting because they record the transition into the classic chalk-forming environments of the Late Cretaceous.
Species and Scientific Interest
Cymatoceras is a genus of coiled nautiloid known from Mesozoic marine deposits. It belongs to the order Nautilida, the same broad nautiloid group that includes the modern chambered Nautilus. Nautiloids such as Cymatoceras had coiled shells divided internally into chambers, with the living animal occupying the outer body chamber. The chambers helped with buoyancy control, allowing the animal to move through the water column.
Cymatoceras is typically recognised by its coiled shell form and surface ornamentation, which may include growth lines or fine ribbing depending on preservation. Unlike many ammonites, which often display complex sutures, strong ribbing, and tubercles, nautiloids generally have simpler shell structures and smoother external forms. This gives Cymatoceras a classic, elegant appearance and makes it a desirable fossil for collectors interested in cephalopod evolution.
As a Lower Cenomanian nautiloid, this fossil is an excellent example of the cephalopods that shared the Cretaceous seas with ammonites. Nautiloids were less diverse than ammonites during this period, which can make good examples particularly appealing to collectors looking for something different from the more commonly encountered ammonite fossils.
Southerham Grey Pit, Lewes Locality
This fossil comes from Southerham Grey Pit near Lewes in East Sussex, UK. The Lewes area is well known for its Cretaceous chalk geology and has produced a wide variety of marine fossils from the Lower Chalk and related deposits. Southerham Grey Pit is a notable locality for Lower Cenomanian fossils and provides an important window into the marine environments of southern England during the early Late Cretaceous.
A Cymatoceras nautiloid from Southerham Grey Pit has strong locality interest for collectors of Sussex fossils, British Cretaceous fossils, chalk fossils, nautiloids, and marine cephalopods. Locality information adds collectable and educational value because it connects the fossil to a specific geological horizon, place, and ancient environment.
Display and Collectability
This Cymatoceras sp. nautiloid fossil is an excellent addition to a fossil cabinet, educational collection, display shelf, or specialist collection of British Cretaceous fossils. Its Lower Cenomanian age, Lower Chalk Marl provenance, Southerham Grey Pit locality, and genuine Certificate of Authenticity make it a desirable specimen for both new and experienced collectors.
With its connection to the early chalk seas of the Upper Cretaceous and its place within the long evolutionary history of nautiloids, this fossil is ideal for anyone interested in prehistoric marine life, cephalopods, British geology, chalk fossils, or natural history display specimens. Carefully selected and photographed individually, this genuine fossil is supplied exactly as shown, giving you a well-documented specimen for study, display, or collection.
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